The Trump administration formally announced on Tuesday that they will begin to end the Obama-era program that has protected thousands of young undocumented immigrants from deportation, calling the policy unconstitutional. The Trump administration suggested Congress could replace the program with legislation that would provide these immigrants with some form of legal status before the program expires on March 5, 2018. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was enacted in 2012 by former President Obama through executive action and has since protected approximately 800,000 young immigrants, known as “dreamers”, who were brought to the US illegally as children, from being deported. The program has also provided these immigrants with renewable, two-year work permits. If Congress fails to act before the program expires on March 5, 2018, these undocumented “dreamers” could face deportation back to countries where many of them have never even lived.
Read moreTenacity and Stubbornness
Roger’s Retractable Roof Debut!
This week Roger Federer did not let the rainy weather stop him from winning his opening round of the US Open against the very talented nineteen-year-old American Frances Tiafoe, making this Roger’s 79th career victory at the US Open. (Okay, so it helped that both the players and the fans were kept dry by Asher Ashe Stadium’s retractable roof.) This was Federer’s debut under the roof, as he missed last year’s tournament in order to let his knee and back heal. Overcoming a slow start and rusty form, Federer persevered to win the intense match. Afterwards, he told ESPN that he felt that it had all come together for him during the second set. That didn’t stop the crowd from worrying! Okay mostly me!
USCIS to Expand In-Person Interview Requirements for Certain Permanent Residency Applicants
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will soon begin the process of expanding in-person interviews for certain applicants seeking permanent residency. This policy change stems from President Trump’s executive order, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” which in addition to banning travel for certain citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries also called for uniform screening standards and procedures for all immigration programs.
Read moreThe Guardian: “Trump’s immigration crackdown is traumatizing a generation of children”
While the Trump administration dramatically increases immigration arrests and deportation orders, children of undocumented immigrant parents have reported a corresponding increase in fear, anxiety, and emotional trauma, and school officials have noted increased cases of absenteeism. Lisseth Rojas-Flores, an associate professor of marital and family therapy at Fuller Theological Seminary in California, explains to the Guardian what these children are going through: “Kids start lagging behind academically, having social stress, anxiety and depression. With the new administration and all the threats for deportation that are so vivid and so real, and all the rhetoric that’s going around, the anxiety escalates to a point that can be very paralyzing for some of these kids, who don’t want to go to school, or who go to school and sit in there and still worry about their families.”
Read moreWorth as a Person
Solar Eclipse 2017
This past Monday the contiguous United States experienced its first total eclipse of the sun since 1979. While some lucky American viewers were in the path of totality, here in New York City it was sadly only a partial eclipse with about seventy percent coverage of the sun. But that didn’t stop Liz and Carolyn from taking a good hard look! Since protecting your eyesight is crucial during a solar eclipse, as we hear staring directly at the sun’s rays can be damaging to your vision (Protima didn’t believe me when I told her this), Liz and Carolyn were prepared! Here they are wearing their eclipse glasses, trying to get a good look from our lunch room. Don’t worry, eventually they shared their glasses and let everyone else look too!
ABC News: “US Embassy in Russia suspends issuing nonimmigrant visas”
The US Embassy in Russia announced yesterday that it would temporarily suspend issuing nonimmigrant visas beginning August 23, 2017, after Russia’s decision to reduce embassy and operational staff. On September 1, 2017, visa operations will resume on a “greatly reduced scale,” and only the US Embassy in Moscow will issue visas. The consulates in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Vladivostok have indefinitely suspended their visa issuance. This decision will affect thousands of Russian tourists and visa applicants. Despite the visa shutdown and staff reduction, the US Embassy in Moscow and the three consulates will continue to provide emergency and routine services to American citizens, although hours may be adjusted.
Read moreThe Persistent Problems of Racism
The Floaters
Los Angeles-based artist Henry Taylor has brought summertime to the High Line with the floaters. This large-scale mural is an adaptation of a self-portrait of Taylor and a friend “blissed out” during a relaxing swim in Palm Springs, exhibiting simple and leisurely happiness. The mural has been painted on the side of a building on West 22nd Street near the High Line so visitors in both the park and the street below can view this artwork. Everyone is excited for this addition to the High Line, including Cecilia Alemani, the director and chief curator of High Line art, who says that “Taylor brings us into his own personal circle in Los Angeles of neighbors, friends, and idols. His use of color and method of arranging shapes elevate the everyday into another majestic realm. With the floaters, Taylor brings a slice of laidback West Coast living to the bustling streets of New York City.”